Upper Santa Ana River Tributaries Restoration Project and Mitigation Reserve Program TRIBUTRIBUTARY RESTORATION Draft Environmental Impact Report | April 2019 Prepared for: San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District 380 East Vanderbilt Way San Bernardino, California Prepared by: ICF 1250 Corona Pointe Ct, Suite 406 Corona, California Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... vii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... xv Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.2 Background .................................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.3 Project Location and Area .............................................................................................. ES-2 ES.4 Project Objectives .......................................................................................................... ES-4 ES.5 Project Description ........................................................................................................ ES-5 ES.6 Summary of Impacts .................................................................................................... ES-13 ES.7 Project Alternatives ..................................................................................................... ES-71 ES.8 Potential Areas of Controversy/Issues to be Resolved ................................................ ES-75 ES.9 How to Comment on this Draft EIR .............................................................................. ES-76 Chapter 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Impact Report ................................................................. 1-5 1.3 Valley District ................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.1 Project Setting .................................................................................................................. 1-5 1.3.2 Lead Agency ..................................................................................................................... 1-7 1.4 Intended Use of this Draft EIR ......................................................................................... 1-8 1.5 CEQA Environmental Review Process .............................................................................. 1-8 1.5.1 Notice of Preparation and Initial Study ........................................................................... 1-8 1.5.2 Written Comments Provided During the NOP Period ..................................................... 1-9 1.5.3 Public Scoping ................................................................................................................ 1-12 1.5.4 Draft EIR ......................................................................................................................... 1-12 1.5.5 Level of CEQA Analysis in this Draft EIR ......................................................................... 1-13 1.5.6 Known Areas of Controversy and Issues of Concern ..................................................... 1-13 1.5.7 Public Review of the EIR ................................................................................................ 1-13 1.5.8 Final EIR .......................................................................................................................... 1-14 1.5.9 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program ............................................................. 1-15 1.6 Organization of the Draft EIR ......................................................................................... 1-15 1.7 Citation of Supporting Documents ................................................................................ 1-16 Chapter 2 Project Description ........................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 Upper Santa Ana River Tributaries Restoration Project and April 2019 Mitigation Reserve Program i ICF 96.18 Draft Environmental Impact Report 2.2 Project Background .......................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.1 Santa Ana River Conservation & Conjunctive Use Program ............................................ 2-3 2.2.2 Site Characteristics and Preliminary Design of Santa Ana River Tributary Restoration Projects .................................................................................................. 2-4 2.2.3 Opportunities and Constraints for Tributary Restoration Sites Report ........................... 2-4 2.3 Project Location ............................................................................................................... 2-5 2.3.1 Project Area and Land Ownership ................................................................................... 2-6 2.4 Existing Conditions and Land Uses ................................................................................... 2-7 2.4.1 Anza Creek and Old Ranch Creek ..................................................................................... 2-7 2.4.2 Lower Hole Creek ............................................................................................................. 2-9 2.4.3 Hidden Valley Creek ....................................................................................................... 2-13 2.5 Project Objectives .......................................................................................................... 2-14 2.6 Tributaries Restoration Project and Mitigation Reserve Program Phase I Components ................................................................................................................... 2-16 2.6.1 Common Design Features .............................................................................................. 2-16 2.6.2 Individual Restoration Site Project Components ........................................................... 2-27 2.6.3 Construction Activities ................................................................................................... 2-36 2.6.4 Long-Term Maintenance ................................................................................................ 2-39 2.7 Mitigation Reserve Program Project Components ........................................................ 2-39 2.7.1 Expanded Mitigation Reserve Program Phase II ............................................................ 2-42 2.7.2 Site Protection Mechanism ............................................................................................ 2-49 2.7.3 Funding Mechanisms and Schedule .............................................................................. 2-49 2.7.4 Long-Term Management Plan ....................................................................................... 2-49 2.8 Potential Additional Location for Restoration Activities ............................................... 2-50 2.9 Required Approvals ........................................................................................................ 2-50 Chapter 3 Impact Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-1 Scope of the Environmental Impact Analysis ...................................................................................... 3-1 Approach to Environmental Analysis .................................................................................................. 3-2 3.1 Agricultural and Forestry Resources ............................................................................. 3.1-1 3.1.1 Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................................ 3.1-1 3.1.2 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................. 3.1-7 3.1.3 Environmental Impacts ............................................................................................... 3.1-10 3.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 3.2-1 3.2.1 Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................................ 3.2-1 3.2.2 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................. 3.2-9 3.2.3 Environmental Impacts ............................................................................................... 3.2-18 3.3 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................